Rehacek



Jan. 31, 1956 REHACEK SPRING TIGHTENER OF A SKI BINDING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1955 ALO IS REHAC E K INVENTOR.

AGENT A. REHACEK SPRING TIGHTENER OF A SKI BINDING Jan. 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1953 ALOIS RE HAC EK NVENTOR United States Patent SPRING TIGHTENER OF A SKI BINDING Alois Rehacek, Vienna, Austria Application October 20, 1953, Serial No. 387,124

4 Claims. (Cl. 28011.35)

The invention has for its object the provision of a spring-tightener combining the advantages of compression springs with those of a construction which is simple, sturdy and, for this reason, reliable in service.

The drawing shows illustrative embodiments of the spring tightener according to the invention;

Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, show the first embodiment in a longitudinal central sectional view in tightened position, and in a side view with the tightener opened, respectively;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5, respectively, show the second embodiment in a longitudinal central sectional view with the tightener closed, in a side view with the tighteuer opened, and in a top plan view with the upright tightening lever shown in section.

The spring tightener of the first embodiment (Figs. 1 and 2) comprises the base part 1, of channel section, and the tightening lever 2, which by a first pivot, consisting of pivot pins 3, is pivoted to the front end of base part 1. The apertured end wall 4 provided at the rear end of the base part forms the spring abutment. In the front portion 5 of its length the base part 1 of the tightener is of reduced cross section. In that portion the side parts 6 of the tightening lever 2 contact the flanges of the base part 1 on the outside when the lever is in tightening position.

Within the base part 1 of the tightener the compression spring 7 is disposed, which with its rear end bears against the rear end wall 4 whereas the abutment formed by thrust plate 8 mounted on tension bolt 9 engages the front end of that spring. A hook 11 serves for the connection of the bolt end projecting through the end wall 4 to the cable of the binding. The length of the spring 7 in relation to the length of the reduced portion 5 is chosen so that at least in the inoperative position of the spring 7 the thrust plate 8 is longitudinally movably guided between the flanges of portion 5.

If dimensioned for a corresponding strength the spring 7 would be sufficient alone to produce the necessary tightening force. It has been found suitable, however, to telescope a shorter, stronger second spring 12, of larger diameter, coaxially over the first spring. This spring 12 is held with or without initial stress in the wider rear portion of the base part 1 of the tightener, between the end wall 4 and the transition 13 to the narrower portion 5. It has been found that where two springs are used which differ in resiliency and length no initial stress thereof is necessary. The other end of the spring 12 is arranged in the path of abutment 8 for engagement thereby when the spring 7 has been compressed to the initial length of spring 12.

The tightening lever 2 is operable to cover the base part 1 at its top and in that position complements said base part to form a boxlike structure. That lever 2 forms part of an assembly comprising a link strap 14 having limbs bent in U-shape and pivotally connected to the lever 2. This link strap connects the lever 2 to the ski. The second pivot 15 mounted in the link strap ICE 14 is longitudinally adjustable by a bipartite adjusting means of variable length, consisting of a screw spindle 16 and a traveling nut 17 which is nondisplaceably held in a bracket 18 rigidly fixed to the ski. The head of screw spindle 16 is fixed by pivot pin 15 between the front ends of the limbs of the link straps 14. Thus the second pivot 15 connects the assembly 2, 14 through the intermediary of adjusting means 16, 17 to bracket 18.

The screw spindle 16 enables the adaptation of the ski binding to the size of the shoe and a control of the tension on the cable. As the tightening lever 2 is depressed, the base part 1 is pulled forwardly and the weaker spring 7 is compressed first. Only when the spring 7 has been compressed to the initial length of spring 12 does the thrust plate 8 engage the front end of the stronger spring 12; then both springs are stressed simultaneously as the forward pull on base part 1 continues. This arrangement aifords the advantage that at the beginning of the pivotal movement of lever 2, when its leverage is still relatively unfavorable, the spring force to be overcome is small too, whereas upon a further turning of the tightening lever and increase of its leverage a stronger spring force can be overcome. Hence a strong tension in the cable can be produced by a slight pressure on the lever.

In another embodiment of the ski binding according to the invention the first pivot consisting of the pivot pin 3 of the tightening lever is longitudinally adjustably mounted in the base part 1 of the tightener. To this end again a bipartite adjusting means of variable length is employed, which comprises a screw spindle 16, whose head carries the pivot pin 3 of lever 2. The appertaining traveling nut 17' is nondisplaceably held in apertures 18 between the flanges of the base part 1 of the tightener. In this case the link strap 14 fixed to the tightening lever 2 is connected by the second pivot 15 directly to a bearing bracket 19 rigidly affixed to the ski.

The arrangement of springs 7 and 12 in the base part 1 of the tightener corresponds to that in the embodiment described first.

The main advantage of the embodiment of the tightener according to Figs. 3 and 5 may be considered to reside in the fact that the base part 1 and the lever 2 of the tightener together with the link strap 14 and the bearing bracket 19 form a closed casing, which encloses the compression springs and the screw spindle 16 and effectively protects them against damage, dirt or icing. Moreover, a relatively small overall length of the tightener can be achieved. Both embodiments have the advantage that the compression springs cannot sufier permanent distortion by overstressing and will unchangingly retain their hardness.

Whereas hereinbefore the invention has been described with particular reference to a ski binding, other applications of its features as set forth in the appended claims will be obvious to men skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a spring tightener which comprises a tension bolt for connection at one end to a cable of a ski binding to be tightened in front of a shoe, the combination of a tightener base part formed with a rear end wall and a front portion of reduced width, an abutment disposed on the other end of said tension bolt and longitudinally guided in said front portion, two telescoped coaxial compression springs of different length contained in said base part, each of said springs bearing with one end against said rear end wall, the longer of said springs bearing with its other end against said abutment, the shorter of said springs having its other end arranged in the path of said abutment for engagement thereby when the longer spring has been compressed to the initial length of the shorter spring, a tightening lever pivotally connected to said base part, and operable to cover said base part at the top thereof, a bracket for connection to a ski, and a link strap pivotally connected to said tightening lever and to said bracket.

2. The combination of claim 1, in which thecompression springs are of difierent resiliency.

3. The combination of claim 1, in which said abutment is a thrust plate mounted on said tension bolt.

4. In a spring tightener which comprises a tension bolt for connection at one end to a cable of a ski binding to be tightened in front of a shoe, the combination of a tightener base part formed with a rear end wall, a relatively narrow front portion and a relatively Wide rear portion, an abutment disposed on the other end of said tension bolt and longitudinally guided in said front portion, a relatively strong, short spring of relatively large diameter held in said rear portion and bearing with one end against said end wall, a relatively weak, long spring of relatively small diameter arranged in said short spring and bearing with one end against said end wall and with the other against said abutment, said short spring having its other end arranged in the path of said abutment for engagement thereby when said long spring has been compressed to the initial length of the short spring, a tightening lever pivotally connected to said base part and operable to cover said base part at the top thereof, a bracket for connection to a ski, and a link strap pivotally connected to said tightening lever and to said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,473 Davis Nov. 17, 1908 2,441,113 Kinzl May 4, 1948 2,610,861 Campbell Sept. 16, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 62,735 Norway July 22, 1940 239,164 Switzerland Dec. 17, 1945 255,732 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1949 264,331 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1950 435,285 Italy May 14, 1948 

